Google has a new method for shrinking down the size of app updates in the Google Play Store. The fresh technique, called file-to-file patching, is more efficient than the previous algorithm. It can help crunch apps, making them easier to download over wireless networks. There's only one drawback.

Google has introduced App Maker, a low-code enterprise application development tool. Developers can use App Maker to build applications without the need to write extensive amounts of code. Google App Maker offers programmatic access to Google Cloud Services and APIs as well as third-party APIs.

Synq has hit the market with a video API designed to bring video capabilities to apps. Unlike many existing video platforms, Synq is not a standalone video management system that brings apps into its ecosystem. Synq hopes that this developer-first mindset will set it apart from other video services.

This is the third part of a three-part post about creating a yoga app for the active lifestyle using the Garmin Connect IQ app system; part 1 focused on page layout, while part 2 focuses on page flow and developing metrics for the app, and part 3 focuses on recording those metrics.

NASA has released a new API (the EPIC API) which provides programmatic access to images pulled from the EPIC camera. EPIC sits upon the DSCOVR satellite and constantly provides images from the Earth's sunlit side. Developers can retrieve images from the camera along with associated metadata.

Google has added yet more tools to the Play Developer Console, including a new voidedPurchases API for managing Play Store refunds. The new feature set mainly targets subscriptions, betas, independent titles, and virtual reality content ahead of Google's launch of the Daydream platform.

Google is pushing a significant update to its Firebase platform in order to make the backend-as-a-service even more useful for developers. The refreshed platform targets game developers and tosses in new crash reporting and analytics enhancements for good measure. Here's what you need to know.

This is the second part of a three-part post about creating a yoga app for the active lifestyle using the Garmin Connect IQ app system; part 1 focused on page layout, while part 2 focuses on page flow and developing metrics for the app, and part 3 focuses on recording metrics.

Google intends to take a more proactive approach to managing fradulent and spammy applications in the Google Play Store. The company said it has new tools to help it protect the integrity of the store by automatically finding apps that attempt to falsely boost their visibility in search results.

This is the first part of a three-part post about creating an app for the active lifestyle using the Garmin Connect IQ app system. Connect IQ allows developers to create apps for entirely new use cases and metrics, part one focuses on developing a UI design for a yoga application.

Thirteen APIs have been added to the ProgrammableWeb directory in several categories including Video, Demographics, Advertising, Games and DevOps, among others. Featured today is an API for integrating with the Buildkite build automation software tool. Here's a rundown of the latest additions.

Earlier this year, Google requested map data from the Korean government. In response, Korean tech companies Naver and Kakao have increased free limits to their respective maps APIs beyond what Google offers. The government is expected to respond next month but the competition has already started.

Uber has introduced a new Uber Driver API that provides driver profile data such as identity, trip details, earnings, and reputation/ratings. The Uber Driver API is currently available to a limited group of developers; however, developers can view the API documentation online.

Recently, Microsoft discontinued the Microsoft Band SDK, and removed Microsoft Band from its online store. "Band" (as the fitness band was known) was Microsoft's entry into the fitness wearables market. For those developing explicitly for Band, this is a rude awakening.

Selecting an API for your latest project can have a significant influence on how it progresses, as well as the cost and efficiency of keeping it up and running. In this post, Deb Haldar discusses 9 API red flags to look out for that could cause issues for your project further down the line.

Verifone, a payments and commerce solutions provider, has announced that the company is leading an effort to define and implement the Conexxus Mobile Standard, a new Mobile API standard that aims to coordinate interactions between mobile payment and loyalty program applications.

The Remote Systems API is a new tool that's part of Project Rome for the Windows 10 Anniversary Update. The goal is to make it easier for people to consume content across multiple devices in a seamless manner. Microsoft hopes developers put this API to use so their apps are more flexible.

Agora.io has launched an Agora Interactive Broadcasting API developers can use to add real-time interactive broadcasting capabilities to web and mobile applications. Agora Interactive Broadcasting supports up to 7 active speakers and 10,000 participants, and is available via the Agora SDK.

App review fraud is a serious issue for both developers and app stores, but Bogdan Popsecu, the developer behind the popular Dash tool, says Apple went too far in closing his account and banning him. This is a mess.

Developing on wearable platforms is new and challenging. App developers are asked to create dynamic user experiences on small screens comparable to what customers see on their mobile phones and web pages. Connect IQ offers a platform for developers to create wearable apps across all Garmin devices.